Roof collapse at Staten Island's Tottenville High School a near miss

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A portion of the roof collapsed yesterday afternoon at Tottenville High School, raining bricks and mortar on the school auditorium where, hours before, a touring U.S. Navy band had performed before a capacity crowd.

But the auditorium was empty at 2:22 p.m., when the collapse occurred. No one was injured, and the Huguenot school will open its doors today.

Sky was visible through the 15-foot-by-40-foot hole in the roof.

Principal John Tuminaro expressed relief that a rehearsal of the musical “Crazy for You” had wrapped up shortly before the collapse. A teacher involved in the rehearsal was traumatized by the near miss, Tuminaro said, and went to Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, as a precaution.

Production of “Crazy for You,” which had been scheduled for this weekend, has been postponed.

Repairs will begin today, the principal said; for the duration, the auditorium and a stairwell opposite where the debris fell will be closed.

“The auditorium is closed off, pending an investigation into the cause of the collapse,” said DOE spokeswoman Margie Feinberg.

Tuminaro’s 911 call in the minutes after the roof collapse elicited a thorough response by the FDNY, the Department of Buildings, the Department of Education, the School Construction Authority and NYPD Emergency Services. The principal said he sent out an automated message to parents and placed a notice on the school’s website.

“All you heard was a boom,” said John Pellegrino, 14, of Woodrow, a freshman.

The fire alarm went off — apparently triggered by thick dust from the falling masonry — and some students began to evacuate before officials ascertained there was no danger and sent them back to their classrooms.

“I saw smoke and thought it was a fire — but there were no flames,” said Breyanka Seeram, 16, of Anndale, a junior.

Joe Celifarco, 16, a sophomore from Eltingville, commended the school on its handling of the crisis. “They made sure everyone was okay,” he said. “And I have no problem coming to school tomorrow.”